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Bajrang Punia kept the wrestling contingent hopes of another medal alive as he entered the semi-final of the men’s freestyle 65kg event. The path was not easy for Bajrang as he survived two close encounters. However, the journey was over for Seema Bisla as she lost in her first-round match to Tunisia’s Sarra Hamdi. Wrestling has delivered mixed results for India in Tokyo Olympics 2020. On the first day, Vinesh Phogat, the top seed lost in the second round. Her repechage chances were also extinguished when the opponent failed to make it to the final. Deepak Punia missed out on bronze but Ravi Dahiya made India proud with a silver medal as he lost in the final to Zavur Uguyev.
The first match of the day saw Seema Bisla square off against Hamdi. The Tunisian dominated for most parts and did not give any leeway to the Indian grappler. Hamdi won the encounter 3-1 and she entered the next round. Bisla could have had the chance to go into the repechage round had Hamdi reached the final. But, the Tunisian lost in the very next round when she was comprehensively beaten by Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan.
Bajrang Punia’s first two games suggested that he lacked some rhythm and had to dig deep to advance. In the first game against Krygystan’s Ernazar Akmataliev, he made a great start in the first period as he gained three points. But, Akmataliev scored two technical points and leveled the match at 3-3. But, Bajrang was declared the winner on VPO1, meaning Victory by points – with point(s) scored by the opponent
The pattern was repeated in the second match against Iran’s Morteza Ghiasi. The Iranian had secured a technical point and was holding onto it until the second period. But, Bajrang earned the victory by securing a Victory By Fall and going into the semi-final with a 2-1 win. However, his next opponent will be Haji Aliyev.
Haji Aliyev represents one of the bigger threats in Bajrang’s quest for gold. The 30-year-old from Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic secured the bronze medal in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. He has won three gold medals in the World Championships in Paris, Las Vegas, and Tashkent. Aliyev also secured the silver medal in the World Cup in 2012 and 2018. He has dominated the European Championships and Games in the last five-six years.
In Tokyo Olympics 2020, Haji Aliyev secured commanding wins in both his encounters and he will be determined to maintain the dominace. Wrestling has given India tremendous glory in the Olympics since 2008. Sushil Kumar won bronze and secured silver in 2008 and 2012. Sakshi Malik secured the bronze via the repechage in 2016 Rio Olympics. With Ravi Dahiya securing the silver, Bajrang will want to go one better and go for gold. But, for that, he will have to first get past Aliyev in the semi-final. If he loses, then Bajrang will go into the repechage for bronze on August 7.
